After a 5-7 record last year the Red Raider football team should know the fan base is approaching this season with great caution. A concise win that gets out of hand pretty early against an FCS opponent could help demonstrate the 2012 Texas Tech team is an improvement of itself last season. The Red Raiders trailed Texas State, then an FCS team, 10-9 at halftime last year.

When Texas Tech has the ball: They can do it all.

Without a doubt the Red Raiders’ strength this year is its offense led by senior quarterback Seth Doege in his second year as the starter and a cast of outstanding receivers and a solid group of running backs. Northwestern State will have a lot of problems on defense but the smart thing to do would be to try to take away the Red Raiders’ passing attack and force Texas Tech to run the ball more than the team would like.

When Northwestern State has the ball: Test the Red Raiders upgraded defensive line and linebackers.

The Red Raiders did a lot in the offseason to bolster their defensive front including changing the defensive scheme from the 4-2-5 to the 4-3 to put another defender in the box to help defend opponents’ running games. Northwestern State is a running team so their best bet is try to run the ball up the middle of the Texas Tech defense. The Red Raiders should be too tough for the Demons but, until proven otherwise, Texas Tech’s run defense is suspect.

Prediction: Texas Tech outmatches Northwestern State in all aspects of the game and should be able to break the game wide open after halftime. Anything less than a 21-point lead at the end of the third quarter, beyond which is when FCS teams really wear down against BCS opponents, would be a disappointing day for the Red Raider fan base.